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KATY, Texas – Senior
Makinna Serrata poured in a game-high 25 points for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi women's basketball program, but Southeastern was able to escape with a 59-54 overtime decision Saturday in the semifinals of the SLC Championship at the Merrell Center.
Serrata, an All-Conference First-Team selection, scored 13 of the team's 17 points in the fourth quarter. For the night, she was 10-of-16 from the field for A&M-Corpus Christi (19-10, 11-3 SLC).
The Islanders led 50-47 when SLU (16-10, 10-4 SLC) hit a three to tie it with 13 seconds left. In the closing seconds of regulation, A&M-Corpus Christi put up a contested mid-range shot that just wouldn't fall.
In overtime, the Lady Lions made a slew of big shots and were 4-of-7 from the floor, while the Islanders were 2-of-5.
Serrata was just three points shy of her career-high. She was one of two Islanders to score in double-figures along with fellow All-Conference First-Team selection junior
Alecia Westbrook with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Sophomore
Violeta Verano dished out a career-high 11 rebounds. Senior
Diamond Wraggs grabbed a career-high four steals.
SLU was guided by Alexius Horne who scored 17 points. Hailey Giaratano ended with 15 points.
The Islanders trailed 4-2 early when a jumper by Serrata sparked a 6-0 run to give them an 8-4 lead at the 5:06 mark. A three by Serrata and a pair of free throws by Westbrook extended it to 13-6 with 2:10 remaining. SLU scored the final bucket of the quarter but A&M-Corpus Christi led 13-8 at the end of one.
On the first possession of the second quarter, sophomore
Paige Allen hit a three at the end of the shot clock to go up 16-8. Still ahead 18-12, A&M-Corpus Christi got in foul trouble and the Lady Lions came back with an 8-2 spurt to tie it 20-20 with 2:07 to go. The Islanders regained a 22-20 edge at the half after sophomore
Mireia Aguado drained a pair of free throws.
After a pair of free throws by Westbrook, SLU responded with seven straight points to take a 27-24 lead at the 6:11 mark of the third. Later trailing 31-27, the Islanders scored the next five points including a fast-break lay-up by Serrata to lead 32-31 with 2:29 remaining. Though, SLU made a tip-in at the buzzer to go back in front 35-33 heading to the fourth.
A back-and-forth fourth quarter saw Serrata make three consecutive jumpers to put the Islanders up 41-39 with 4:52 left. After a three by SLU on the other end, Westbrook scored inside to make it 43-42 with 4:06 to go.
The teams exchanged baskets down the stretch as Serrata caught fire. Her fifth field goal of the quarter put A&M-Corpus Christi up 50-47. Though, SLU was able to tie it on a three and get a stop defensively in the end to send the game to overtime.
In the extra period, a drive by Westbrook evened it 54-54 with 1:51 left. Though, the Lady Lions responded with another big three, got a stop defensively and scored in transition to lead 59-54.
NOTES
- The Islanders are now 12-10 all-time against SLU and 1-1 on a neutral court. It was the first time they've met in the SLC Tournament.
- A&M-Corpus Christi continued to show its tough defense and held a team to 60 points or less in 16 of the last 18 games.
- Serrata drilled a career-high 10 field goals, topping her previous best of nine set four times. It was her seventh 20-plus scoring performance of the season. It was also her 33rd career double-figure scoring game, 22nd this year and 11th in a row.
- Westbrook, the SLC Defensive Player of the Year, entered the night ranked top-25 in the country in rebounding and was one shy of a double-double. She registered her 39th career double-figure scoring game, 22nd this year and sixth in a row. Westbrook was 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
- Verano led the league in assists with 4.6 per game and more-than doubled her average with 10. She surpassed her previous high of nine assists against New Orleans on Feb. 3.
- Sophomore
Nabaweeyah McGill ranked second in the SLC in blocks with 1.2 per game and swatted away a pair.
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